Luggage case having inclined and readily usable handle

ABSTRACT

A luggage case includes a handle device inclinedly secured in the case and having a hand grip for moving and carrying the case without inclining the case relative to a supporting ground. The handle device includes a tube having a lower portion secured to the lower and front portion of the case with a coupler, and an upper portion secured to the upper and rear portion of the case with a bracket. The coupler has a plate secured to the lower and front portion of the case, and a housing attached to the lower portion of the tube and pivotally secured to the plate with a shaft.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a luggage case, and more particularly to a luggage case having an inclined and readily usable handle device.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Typical suitcases and luggage cases comprise a handle attached to the rear portion, and retractable outwardly from the upper portion thereof. The handle devices are normally perpendicular to the suitcases or the luggage cases and may be extended outwardly from the upper portion thereof.

[0005] While moving or carrying the suitcases or the luggage cases, the suitcases and the luggage cases should be tilted for inclining or tilting the suitcases or the luggage cases relative to the ground, and for allowing the suitcases or the luggage cases to be moved on the ground.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,487 to Plath, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,306 to Carrigan, Jr., disclose two of the typical suitcases or luggage cases each having a handle perpendicularly attached to the rear portion of the suitcases or the luggage cases, and extended outwardly from the upper portion thereof.

[0007] However, while inclining or tilting the suitcases or the luggage cases relative to the ground, the center of gravity of the suitcases or the luggage cases may be moved forwardly and offset from the suitcases or the luggage cases, such that the suitcases or the luggage cases have a good chance to fall down inadvertently.

[0008] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional luggage cases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a luggage case including an inclined and readily usable handle device that may be used for moving or carrying the suitcases or the luggage cases without inclining or tilting the suitcases or the luggage cases.

[0010] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a luggage case comprising a case body including a lower and front portion, and an upper and rear portion, a handle device inclinedly secured in the case body and including a lower portion attached to the lower and front portion of the case body, and an upper portion attached to the upper and rear portion of the case body, and the handle device including a hand grip provided on top thereof for moving and carrying the case body without inclining the case body relative to a supporting ground.

[0011] The handle device includes a tube disposed between the lower and front portion of the case body and the upper and rear portion of the case body.

[0012] The handle device includes a bracket secured in the upper and rear portion of the case body, and having a conduit extended therefrom and engaged onto the tube for securing the tube to the upper and rear portion of the case body.

[0013] The bracket includes an orifice formed therein, the handle device further includes an extension slidably received in the tube and extendible outwardly through the orifice of the bracket and having the hand grip provided on top thereof.

[0014] A coupler may further be provided for securing a lower portion of the tube to the lower and front portion of the case body. The coupler includes a plate secured to the lower and front portion of the case body, and a housing attached to the lower portion of the tube and pivotally secured to the plate.

[0015] The plate includes two spaced ducts, the housing includes a barrel disposed between the ducts, and the coupler includes a shaft engaged through the ducts and the barrel for allowing the housing to be rotated and adjusted relative to the plate.

[0016] A board may further be provided and disposed between the lower and front portion of the case body and the upper and rear portion of the case body, the handle device being engaged onto the board. A covering layer may further be provided and engaged onto the handle device and the board for shielding the handle device.

[0017] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of a detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a luggage case in accordance with the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the luggage case;

[0020]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

[0021]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a handle device of the luggage case;

[0022]FIG. 5 is a plan schematic view illustrating a portion of the handle device of the luggage case;

[0023]FIG. 6 is a partial exploded view of the handle device of the luggage case;

[0024]FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the handle device of the luggage case;

[0025]FIG. 8 is a side schematic view illustrating the operation of the luggage case;

[0026]FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of the luggage case; and

[0027]FIG. 10 is a partial cross sectional view illustrating the operation of the luggage case.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0028] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a luggage case in accordance with the present invention comprises a case body 1 including an upper portion or panel 10, a bottom portion or panel 20, a rear portion or panel 30, and a front portion or panel 11 having one or more door panels 12 encloseable with zipper devices 14 (FIG. 1), for engaging into or for removing various objects from the case body 1.

[0029] A board 40 is inclinedly or tiltedly secured in the case body 1, and is secured between the front or the middle portion of the bottom panel 20 thereof and the middle or the rear portion of the upper panel 10 thereof. The rear panel 30 may be secured to the board 40 with one or more stitches 70 (FIG. 2), for suitably recessing the rear panel 30 (FIGS. 1-3, 8-10), and for comfortably engaging the case body 1 onto the users.

[0030] One or more fastener straps 31 may be attached to the rear portion of the case body 1, for carrying the case body 1. The case body 1 may include one or two side portions 80 each having one or more pouches or bags 81 provided thereon and closable with zipper devices 82, for engaging into or for removing various objects, such as the shoes 83 (FIG. 9) from the bags 81 or the inner portions of the case body 1.

[0031] A handle device 60 includes a tube 62 having a lower portion secured to the front or middle portion of the bottom panel 20 of the case body 1, and having an upper portion secured to the middle or rear portion of the upper panel 10 of the case body 1. For example, the handle device 60 may be engaged or secured onto the board 40, such that the handle device 60 may also be inclinedly or tiltedly secured in the case body 1.

[0032] A bracket 63 includes a conduit 631 extended downwardly therefrom, and inclined relative to the bracket 63 (FIG. 5) with such as an angle ranging between 96 to 110 degrees, for receiving or securing the upper portion of the tube 62. The bracket 63 may be secured to the upper panel 10 directly, or indirectly with a pad 64 or the like, for securing the upper portion of the tube 62 to the case body 1.

[0033] The handle device 60 may further include an extension 61 slidably received in the tube 62, and extendible upwardly through an orifice 633 of the bracket 63, for allowing the extension 61 to be extended upwardly beyond the upper panel 10 of the case body 1. A hand grip 66 may be secured on top of the extension 61 for carrying the case body 1, and/or for engaging the extension 61 into or out of the tube 62.

[0034] Alternatively, the extension 61 may be secured in the tube 62, or the hand grip 66 may be directly secured on top of the tube 62 for moving or carrying the case body 1. A covering layer 50 (FIGS. 3, 10) may further be provided and engaged onto the tube 62 and/or the board 40, for shielding or covering the tube 62, and for preventing the objects received in the case body 1 from contacting with the tube 62.

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 1-4 and 6-10, a coupler 65 may further be provided for securing the lower portion of the tube 62 to the front or middle portion of the bottom panel 20 of the case body 1, and includes a plate 652 secured to the front or middle portion of the bottom panel 20 of the case body 1, and a housing 651 for receiving the lower portion of the tube 62, and pivotally secured to the plate 652.

[0036] For example, the plate 652 includes two ducts 654 provided on the rear portion thereof and spaced away from each other. The housing 651 includes a rear portion 653 having a barrel 655 provided on the bottom portion thereof and engageable between the ducts 654. A shaft 656 may be engaged through the ducts 654 and the barrel 655 for rotatably or pivotally securing the housing 651 to the plate 652.

[0037] As best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the housing 651 may be rotated or adjusted relative to the plate 652, such that the tube 62 may be easily adjusted relative to the bottom panel 20 of the case body 1, and such that the tube 62 of the handle device 60 may be easily secured to various case bodies 1 in different angular positions relative to the case bodies 1 when the case bodies 1 have different widths or thicknesses.

[0038] The case body 1 may include one or more wheels or wheel devices 17 attached to the bottom thereof for allowing the case body 1 to be easily moved or carried with the users. The handle device 60 and the case body 1 may both be disposed inclinedly or tiltedly relative to the ground, best shown in FIG. 10. The handle device 60 may also be directly secured in the case body 1 without the board 40 and the covering layer 50.

[0039] In operation, as shown in FIG. 10, the case body 1 may be easily or readily moved or carried with the users by the wheel devices 17, and with the hand grip 66, without inclining or tilting the case body 1 relative to the supporting ground. The extension 61 may be partially or fully moved or extended out of the tube 62, for facilitating the moving or carrying of the case body 1 by the users.

[0040] Accordingly, the inclined handle device of the luggage case may carry the luggage case without tilting or inclining the luggage cases relative to the ground.

[0041] Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

I claim:
 1. A luggage case comprising: a case body including a lower and front portion, and an upper and rear portion, a handle device inclinedly secured in said case body and including a lower portion attached to said lower and front portion of said case body, and an upper portion attached to said upper and rear portion of said case body, and said handle device including a hand grip provided on top thereof for moving and carrying said case body without inclining said case body relative to a supporting ground.
 2. The luggage case according to claim 1, wherein said handle device includes a tube disposed between said lower and front portion of said case body and said upper and rear portion of said case body.
 3. The luggage case according to claim 2, wherein said handle device includes a bracket secured in said upper and rear portion of said case body, and having a conduit extended therefrom and engaged onto said tube for securing said tube to said upper and rear portion of said case body.
 4. The luggage case according to claim 3, wherein said bracket includes an orifice formed therein, said handle device further includes an extension slidably received in said tube and extendible outwardly through said orifice of said bracket and having said hand grip provided on top thereof.
 5. The luggage case according to claim 2 further comprising a coupler for securing a lower portion of said tube to said lower and front portion of said case body.
 6. The luggage case according to claim 5, wherein said coupler includes a plate secured to said lower and front portion of said case body, and a housing attached to said lower portion of said tube and pivotally secured to said plate.
 7. The luggage case according to claim 6, wherein said plate includes two spaced ducts, said housing includes a barrel disposed between said ducts, and said coupler includes a shaft engaged through said ducts and said barrel for allowing said housing to be rotated and adjusted relative to said plate.
 8. The luggage case according to claim 1 further comprising a board disposed between said lower and front portion of said case body and said upper and rear portion of said case body, said handle device being engaged onto said board.
 9. The luggage case according to claim 8 further comprising a covering layer engaged onto said handle device and said board for shielding said handle device. 